Hero Jones swamps soggy Bath
January 27, 2002

The referee inspected the pitch at 9 am and ruled it was fit for play. A few hours later and Bath's hopes of a Heineken Cup semi-final place had gone down the plughole.

Llanelli's Welsh international fly-half Stephen Jones repeated his heroics of a fortnight ago when he tamed Leicester Tigers to book their quarter-final place.

This time, 1998 European champions Bath were his victims as he followed an eight-from-eight penalty exhibition against Leicester with an identical return to secure last-four status. He also added an injury-time drop goal, giving him all 27 points against Bath's 10.

Jones's deadly accuracy ruthlessly punished Bath's indiscipline. They never got to grips with either the conditions or Llanelli's forwards. He put Llanelli 18 points ahead before Bath flanker Gavin Thomas scored the game's solitary try on 67 minutes, but it proved scant consolation.

Any prospect of a late Bath revival collapsed courtesy of Jones' eighth successful strike, bouncing off the post and then crossbar.

As disgruntled Bath supporters drifted quietly away, the Llanelli players returned to salute their travelling fans, which seemed fair for those who had travelled to Bath on Saturday only for the game to be called off.

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